Written Question · S7W-03797 · Session 7
Regarding Child Winter Heating Payment (CWHP) payments made in 2025-26, what information it has regarding how many children and young peopl…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding Child Winter Heating Payment (CWHP) payments made in 2025-26, what information it has regarding how many children and young people living in European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland received a CWHP payment, what the total cost of those payments was and what assessment it has made of the continued suitability of eligibility for people living overseas.
The answer
Child Winter Heating Payment is an automatic payment, unique to Scotland, which supports families with disabled children and young people under 19 with the additional heating costs they face in winter.Official statistics Winter Heating Benefits: Statistics for Winter 2025/2026
- Social Security Scotland published for winter 2025-26 show that Social Security Scotland made 44,525 payments, totalling £11.4 million to eligible families. Of these, 5 were made to families with a non-UK address, totalling around £1,000. Information on the countries in which those recipients were resident is not published.Eligibility for Child Winter Heating Payment while living in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland reflects the UK's obligations under international social security coordination arrangements. Entitlement applies only in limited circumstances, where a child or young person receives a qualifying disability benefit, has a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland, and resides in Switzerland or an eligible EEA country with a lower average winter temperature than the warmest region of the UK.The Scottish Government keeps the operation of all devolved benefits under review. However, eligibility for people living overseas is governed by the UK's international obligations and applies only to a very small number of cases.
- Social Security Scotland published for winter 2025-26 show that Social Security Scotland made 44,525 payments, totalling £11.4 million to eligible families. Of these, 5 were made to families with a non-UK address, totalling around £1,000. Information on the countries in which those recipients were resident is not published.Eligibility for Child Winter Heating Payment while living in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland reflects the UK's obligations under international social security coordination arrangements. Entitlement applies only in limited circumstances, where a child or young person receives a qualifying disability benefit, has a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland, and resides in Switzerland or an eligible EEA country with a lower average winter temperature than the warmest region of the UK.The Scottish Government keeps the operation of all devolved benefits under review. However, eligibility for people living overseas is governed by the UK's international obligations and applies only to a very small number of cases.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S7W-03797 by reference.